Poetical fragments heart-employment with God and it selfPoetical fragments heart-imployment with God and it self

At last my Fears became my greatest Fear, Lest that my whole Religion should lie there: No man hath more of Holiness than Love: Which doth free souls by complacency move Common Grace goes as far as Fear alone: This eateth not the meat, but gnaws the bone. A slavish fear desireth leave to sin: It doth but tie the hands, and wash the skin. Hypocrites act a forced affected part: Where Love is absent, God hath not the heart. He'll not accept what's done against mens will, That if they durst, had rather have done ill.

At last my Fears became my greatest Faar, Lest that my whole Religion should lie there: No man hath more of Holiness than Love: Which doth free souls by complacency move Common Grace goes as far as Fear alone: This eateth not the meat, but gnaws the bone. A slavish fear desireth leave to sin: It doth but tie the hands, and wash the skin. Hypocrites act a forc't affected part: Where Love is absent, God hath not the heart. He'l not accept what's done against mens will, That if they durst, had rather have done ill.

Oh my dear God! shall not my Heart be thine? Then I shall wish it never had been mine. Objects of Sense do soonest move the Passion: But sure Thou hast my highest Estimation; My Will's Resolved Choice is to be Thine: My Soul and Body I to Thee resign: ⟨p. 18⟩To Thee the motions of my Soul do bend: Thou art the Scope to which my Life doth tend. The Motions of the higher Faculties, The Ruling Powers are chiefest in thine eyes: Thou takest the Love and Homage which they pay; Though Rebel Passion doth not them obey, What makes me laugh most, makes me not most glad What made me weep most, made me not most sad: My Love to one choice friend hath oft more passion, Than my much greater Love to Church & Nation. O had I all my Powers at command! As readily as tongue, or foot, or hand! My eyes should empty first the serous store, Because I love so good a God no more: And next some of the florid Blood should spend, Because the God of Love I did offend. The rest should serve for Oil unto Love's Fire, Wasting in restless vehement Desire: At every mention of thy Blessed Name, My ravished Soul should mount up in Love's flame: Each Sermon should Elijah Chariot be, To carry up my longing heart to Thee. The Saints Assemblies I would make more bright, Where many Heaven-aspiring flames unite. And when my Lord's Love-sufferings I read, My pierced and Love-wounded heart should bleed. Love should enforce each word when I do pray; A Flaming Heart I'd on thy Altar lay: When halving Hypocrites give Thee a part, Love should present my Whole, though Broken heart.